The Habitus Guide to Salone del Mobile 2016

From the Rho Fairgrounds, to luxury shop fronts and iconic palazzos, here are the events, exhibitions and features of Salone del Mobile 2016 that we can’t wait to see.

Are you heading to the Milan Furniture Fair this year? Join Habitus as we cover the world’s largest furniture fair, and check out our top 5 picks for the best in Australian and international design, on show in Milan.

The 55th edition of Salone del Mobile, the world’s largest furniture fair, is fast approaching. The event was originally launched in 1961 to promote exports from Italy’s finest design outfits, but grew to become one of the most important international design showcases. Hosted in historic Milan, Salone is a stage for the best in design – luminaries from around the globe exhibit new ideas and exiting collaborations, while design enthusiasts and industry kingpins descend upon the city to site serious emerging talent.

The Habitus team is excited to uncover the splendours of Salone in 2016, and will be sharing the best with you as it all unfolds in Milan from April 12. From the Rho Fairgrounds, to luxury shop fronts and iconic palazzos, here are the events, exhibitions and features of the sprawling fair that we can’t wait to see.

Naturally we are drawn to any aspiring Australian talent on show at Milan. Led by stylist Emma Elizabeth and industrial designer Tom Fereday, LOCAL DESIGN will exhibit a neat roster of 12 Australian designers, including Toby Jones, Shilo Engelbrecht and DAAST. Supported by Brickworks Building Products, designers’ work will be displayed amongst an impressive installation of over 5000 bricks within a historic church in the new 5 Vie district.

Other Australian exhibitors include Trent Jansen who will be presenting his design The Briggs Family Tea Service s part of the XX1 Triennale International Exhibition 2016, curated by La Triennale di Milano.

Tom Dixon and Caesarstone

British lighting and furniture designer with a fondness for copper, Tom Dixon will be returning to Milan this year to present an exciting collaboration with Caesarstone. The multi-sensory creation titled The RESTAURANT consists of four conceptual kitchens inspired by the elements – earth, fire, water and air.

Set within a 17th century Cloister encircling a public garden and a deconsecrated church, each kitchen will feature a variety of colours and materials that complement the mood and atmosphere of each element.

Lexus Exhibition

Following the theme of ‘anticipation’, visitors to this exhibition will experience a unique collaboration between designers Formafantasma, and rising culinary star chef Yoji Tokuyoshi. Prototypes for the Lexus Design Award will also be on display – including TRACE, a unique clock that uses a liquid with UV rays and discolouration properties to visualise passing time

Nendo

Fusing symbolic magna comics with furniture design, Nendo will present an exhibition called 50 magna chairs. Just as the comics are presented as a seires of frames on a single sheet of paper to create a sequence, Nendo’s presentation will feature 50 standard chairs lined up in a grid, each with some kind of emotional cue affixed as a design element: speech bubbles, sweat , tears and effect lines.

Moooi presents The Unexpected Welcome

For the fourth time running, Moooi will transform Via Savona 56 into a immersive universe of creativity, within a mysterious, dark ballroom. The exhibition will feature oversized prints by award winning photographer Rebecca Bathory, as well as 22 pieces from Moooi’s latest collection.

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